Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Gibbs Resigns

Well, the Redskins 2007-8 season has been complete for barely 48 hours, and in what is a pretty shocking development, Joe Jackson Gibbs has resigned as Redskins head coach and team president. His career record *should* stand at 154-94, barring what seems an improbable third tenure as an NFL coach. We probably shouldn't be surprised considering what this season must have been like, what Gibbs family has been going through and considering the coach is rapidly approaching 70.

Gibbs second reign will likely be remembered as unspectacular and largely unsuccessful, with a 30-34 record and only one playoff victory; however the next several years could likely play a prominent role in determining if Gibbs 2.0 was, in fact, a success.

In support of Gibbs second reign, one could site two playoff appearances in four years--no small feat when juxtaposed against the one playoff appearance the team enjoyed in the 13 season sabbatical Gibbs took from '91 to '04. Moreover, one could also argue that the cupboard has not been left bare. For the first time in over a decade, the Redskins appear to have some serviceable young, homegrown talent and a nucleus that may serve the team well for a few more years. Or, they could immediately and completely go in the tank like the famous 4-12 Richie Pettitbone season.

What happens now? I half expect them to announce Greggggggggggggg Williams as the new HC at the 3pm press conference, though, as Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer (Mayhugh) astutely pointed out to me, they may have to pay some lip service to the league's minority hiring rules prior to doing that. (Maybe they'll interview Earnest Byner in the Ashburn Arby's at noon, rule him out, and then announce Williams.) At the same time, we are dealing with Daniel M. Snyder here...so it might be time to make a splash and do something breathtakingly stupid...like pursue Bill Cowher...or as Mike Greenberg just suggested, Pete Carroll.

My preference? I say give it to Williams, let Saunders run the offense for one year without grandpa telling him to keep it under 65mph and see what happens (though I do fear that Saunders would elect to go with Todd Collins at QB--a mistake in my estimation).

I'm personally sad to see Gibbs go. I was optimistic about one more season with the old guy and maybe making one more run at something. That said, last night I was thinking about the viability of this team going into '08 and my general take was that they still were a good bit away from competing with the big boys. They probably need a defensive lineman who demands a double team, a new guard and a 65% sexier receiving corps...and then they still need better QB play. But that's neither here nor there.

As I alluded to last week, I'm comfortable characterizing Gibbs second reign as a success, if only because he moved this team from under the "laughing stock" heading for a few years. Yep, 5-11 and 6-10 were no picnic, and at times it felt like we were watching Ted Stevens try to use the internets...but for the first time since the 80's and early 90's, there were legitimately big wins and legitimate reasons for hope and optimism going into seasons. Sure, he laughs like a girl and coaches like a ninny at times, but in the end I think this team will be better over the long run because of Gibbs second tenure (hopefully he taught Danny some things). In the end, every enjoyable Redskins season I've experienced featured Gibbs...that pretty much sums it up.

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And, for your wagering amusement...here are the early odds on who will be the Skins next head man...

General consensus is that even though TC is a UFA, there is little to no interest in him league-wide. He will be 37 at the start of next season. Only the Redskins are dumb enough to hook their wagon to that star...

The upside of this...I think...is that we've probably seen the last of Mark Brunell in the burgundy and gold.

I'm all for the "not shaking up the nucleus" approach. While I'm not particularly fond of Williams (mostly based on his first head coaching tenure and some of the comments about his personality made by an "anonymous" source last year), the big splash approach has disaster written all over it.

Even with the departure of Gibbs, there are a lot of cooks in the Redskins' kitchen. While Gibbs appeared at times to be a figurehead, whatever egos and personalities existed within the coaching staff, they were kept in check, at least from an outsider's point of view. Going outside the current organization for a big name (like Cowher) would most likely lead to one of two outcomes: 1) Saunders, Williams, or both get flummoxed by the decision and leave the team in a huff (and their respective side of the ball in disarray) or 2) everyone uneasily coexists for a year and it shows in the loss column.

For stability's sake, I think you go with Williams and see what happens.

I'm pretty sure the departure of Gibbs also means the end of days for Buges, Pec, Domn Breaux, Bubba Tyer and the other 13 or so associate head coaches on offense, regardless of who is coach. Most of those guys were around for the discovery of fire...and I'm pretty sure they're content to call it a career now.

I'm shocked by this news, but I wouldn't be entirely shocked if they talked to some people before promoting Greggggg. He's a very good DC, but just seeing how he is, it's not hard to understand why he may have struggled as a HC. Very crusty and provincial.

Jason LaConfora quotes a source close to Vinny Cerrato (probably the raquet ball pro at Bally's) who says Snyder has major wood for Cowher (I'm paraphrasing). I've never been too psyched about Cowher. You can't fuck with results, but at the same time he kind of strikes me as the white Herm Edwards.

And now would probably be a good time to discuss Mayhugh's insane hatred of all people with underbites.

Conversely, John Clayton says the job is essentially Gregggggggggggg's--that Cowher is intent on sitting out til '09. Which is probably fine by Danny. One year with Williams...spend the whole season secretly wooing Cowher...and can Gregggggggg the day after the season ends...or maybe in the locker room after a loss in week 13.

I think the reporter's question put those words in his mouth, thoug -- "how importance is continuity based on where Joe Gibbs has this team?"

How about the cockwhistle who, amid Joe Gibbs talking about his family matters and Snyder paying some deep respects to the man, asks Snyder if he has called Bill Cowher yet? A time and a place, buddy. Get a clue.

In all honesty, I think -- okay, well, I hope more than I think -- that Dan Snyder has gotten more wisdom and a sense of how to do things from 4 years of Joe Gibbs than he could have in 20 with any other coach.

I am curious, and a bit worried, to see whether there will be a return to form for Danny Boy or whether he's figured out how to treat people and do things the right way. I still don't care much for him, but I am optimistic he's grown up just a tad from the horrendous spoiled brat owner he was.

One more thing: Don't compare Cowher to Herm unless Cowher has problems counting.

Watching Herm botch the clock management EVERY TIME when he coaches your time is like knowing you're about to be punched in the balls. The anticipation of it happening is agonizing, and the sheer pain of it happening is pure pain.